I Am Better

mark my words on this on yall, for real for real.

I Am Better

What once was,
Is now something it thought it was not.
And what is,Is far from what was,
But has become something is not.
A truth that is legitI am disgusted to admit,
A realization I do not want to realize.
My real eyes, realize, real lies.
Part of me has become that real lie.
No longer completely that real guy,
But that bow down and kneel guy.
For real guys,It’s crazy.
I’ve gotten lazy with my practice,
Been inactive.
So out of shape,
With every step I take,
My breath,I cannot catch it.
I must learn to move passed this.
Expect the unexpected.
You can bet it.
If you don’t get it, you need to get it.
Respect the unexpected.
Don’t forget it.
It’s one thing to expect,
It’s another to respect,
And I did not do the other.
Now I must do over.
Take time to rewind so that I can move better forward.
Toward the Lord.I’ve learned to shield myself from trouble.
It’s time I took up my sword,
And strike back.
Yeah, just like that.
I’ve got my sight back,
And now I’m headed right back on the right track on which I was on before.
I will spread my spirit’s wings wide and soar.
No longer again will I sell out to what’s in store.
When opportunities aren’t opening up,
Best believe I will kick down doors.
Because I make things happen.
I can’t always wait for things to happen to make me.
I will never forsake me.
I will not let anything else break me.
Jesus broke bread with the Apostles to keep us from falling apart.
It’s only fair,
It’s only right,
That I take good care of His home,
My heart.
For the up and coming,
I must be up and cunning.
For the Devil is a crafty one and a nasty one.
I must stay grounded, well rounded,
And together.
I must be better.
I’ve been my best,
That left me limited.
I must be better and become infinite.
My strength, perseverance, determination,
Jesus would never limit this,
So I choose to be limitless.
I choose to be better.
Work harder, be smarter,
Better.
I will no longer try my best,
I will try better.
I will no longer do my best,
I will do better.
I will no longer be my best,
I will be better.
More than ever,
I am better
And I Don’t care who you are or what you say.
I am better.
So go ahead,
Tell me your name
Look me in the eyes and tell me your best,
I’ll look at you right back in the eyes and boldly reply,
I am ROBert Lucero,
And I Am BETTER!!!
I have no limits,
Sky is the minimum for this individual,
i was born a blessing,
I will die a miracle.

beautiful as a bride

Moved.

I wore a veil for the first time in front of the Blessed Sacrament last night. I facilitated with Jen Sarmiento this past weekend on the Confirmation II Retreat. I noticed that she wore a delicate, white veil over her head in the chapel, and I became so curious about why she wore it.

“It’s a sign of reverence. I wear it to show respect whenever I’m in the presence of the Eucharist… I feel naked without it.”

She brought a booklet about Catholic veils, and while I glanced through it, I could not help but be absolutely intrigued as it how Adoration, Mass, or Chapel time could be different when wearing a veil.

Last night, I asked Jen if I could wear one of her veils to Adoration and her eyes almost lit up with my request. She told me about how veils were a lost tradition of the Church— a fiery rebellion among women during the feminist movement, since veils are a symbol of obedience and humility. Jen is the only young woman I know who rocks a veil during Mass, and I admire her for her commitment and evident devotion to Christ. The stigma about veils is that only elderly Filipino ladies wear them, but there’s something beautiful about the youth wearing them.

Jen handed me the soft, white fabric. As I unfolded it and draped the veil over my head, I couldn’t help but feel like I was securing on my helmet for combat— spiritual warfare between God and my burdens.

Walking into the Main Room for Adoration, I could feel the warmth of candlelight and the people in there. Saturday night on retreat is always trying, emotional, and cathartic.

I knelt down as the King was carried into the room and the glimmer of the golden Monstrance reflected all around the room— however, I knew the glow on each person’s face came from the presence of the Holy Eucharist. As I bowed to the Blessed Sacrament and looked down, I saw white lace— a symbol of my humility. Despite its weightlessness, I became very aware of the veil on my head and with folded hands, I stared heavily upon the Blessed Sacrament.

In that instant, I felt beautiful.

I lowered myself and cried. I thought of all the anxiety, pain, and burdens that weighed down on my shoulders, and I could feel myself shaking. Warmth veiled over me and I stopped. I prayed for God to lift the weight off me. I prayed for the humility to lay it down— lay it down and let God help me.

With dewy eyes and the release of purging emotion, I, like the veil on my head, became weightless.

- trina tan
www.flickr.com/trinatan